When the curtain rises on Walt’s office, guests will hear heartfelt stories, anecdotes and words of wisdom shared by Walt using historical recordings. They will encounter him like never before, through a medium he pioneered with his team when they created the Audio-Animatronics figure of Abraham Lincoln. The total run time of the attraction will be approximately 17 minutes.
After its initial run, the Main Street Opera House will welcome back “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which will play in rotation with “Walt Disney A Magical Life.”
Walt Disney Imagineering has put in more than seven years of work on this project, though creating a Walt figure has been an idea within Imagineering for years decades, even.
The film “One Man’s Dream” leads from Walt’s early endeavors to the bright lights of Los Angeles and beyond. This beloved cinematic journey will be uniquely adapted for “Walt Disney A Magical Life.”
The attraction features the first-ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure and tells the incredible story of his life through historical footage and audio recordings featuring Walt’s own words.
Several historical sources featuring dialogue of Walt, spoken by him, are blended seamlessly to create the inspiring performance of the Audio-Animatronics figure.
Walt’s attire was carefully researched including his suit, shoes, tie and rings.
Imagineers are pushing the art form and technology of Audio-Animatronics storytelling in every way possible to capture Walt’s likeness and mannerisms.
The creative team chose the approximate time period of 1963 when determining Walt’s appearance.
The office that appears in the attraction is inspired by Walt’s actual office in Burbank, similar to the office set developed for Walt’s many television appearances.
Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the stage inside the theater to accommodate a rotating turntable allowing for both “Walt Disney A Magical Life” and “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” to play in rotation.
For the first time, the Main Street Opera House will feature a new marquee with two titles, displaying in the center “Opera House now featuring two dramatic theater presentations!” with A Magical Life above Walt Disney’s name on the left, and to the right, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
Latest Audio-Animatronics Technology
The Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney is the most lifelike figure that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created. The team achieved many innovations never done before in a humanoid figure, such as:
Achieving a ‘twinkle in the eye’
The first ‘lean to stand’ motion for an all-electric figure
Realistic skin through new methods
Imagineering studied muscle structure and the nuances of speaking and gesturing such as how the mouth falls when the figure is speaking, as well as the very Walt mannerisms and movements including the way Walt used his hands.
The technological leaps to achieve these far-reaching ambitions were called “moonshots” within the team that innovated them.
“Evolution of a Dream”
Inside the lobby of the Main Street Opera House, an all-new gallery experience titled “Evolution of a Dream” will display images, artifacts and art some never before seen that show Disneyland before, during and after Walt’s dream became a reality. Included will be pencil drawings and other concept artwork featuring preliminary plans for Disneyland.
Walt Disney Imagineering and the Walt Disney Archives have curated relics and memorabilia from the early stages of Disneyland including vintage merchandise, correspondence and more.
The Walt Disney Family Museum has selected more than 30 artifacts for these experiences in the lobby, including original items from Walt’s private apartment which have never been publicly exhibited at Disneyland Park before. These artifacts will be on loan from the museum.
A special exhibit about the story and history of Audio-Animatronics technology will feature original and replica figures dating back to Walt Disney Imagineering’s earliest development of the technology. Attractions featured include Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, “it’s a small world,” Pirates of the Caribbean and more.
In a heartfelt pre-show tribute video to “Walt Disney A Magical Life” called “Memories of Walt,” those who worked alongside Walt Disney and those inspired by his vision share personal stories and reflections about Walt Disney. Through touching anecdotes and behind-the-scenes memories, they offer a rare glimpse into Walt’s character, and the man behind the magic. These intimate recollections reveal his relentless curiosity, hands-on leadership and unwavering belief in creativity and people.
At the conclusion of “Walt Disney A Magical Life,” as guests leave the theater, they’ll experience another new exhibit showcasing cast members at work through the years, as well as a stunning new mural paying tribute to Disneyland history, including entertainment and attractions, plus what’s to come.
Quotes from Walt Disney Imagineering
“The 70th anniversary of Disneyland gave us a great opportunity to debut this attraction and remind guests of Walt Disney and his incredible journey. Creating this figure is an enormous responsibility and one that the team has taken very seriously, likely as seriously as Walt Disney did in creating the Audio-Animatronics figure of Abraham Lincoln so many decades ago. We hope to honor Walt through the art form that he pioneered, and that ‘Walt Disney A Magical Life’ will be a permanent tribute here at Disneyland the only Disney park Walt ever walked in.” – Tom Fitzgerald, Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering
“This fitting tribute will give millions of guests a moment of wish fulfillment – to feel like what it was like to be in Walt’s presence. We worked closely with the Walt Disney Archives and The Walt Disney Family Museum to depict the details of Walt and his office accurately in this theatrical presentation. Most importantly, we were passionate about creating an Audio-Animatronics figure designed specifically for this attraction, delivering a portrayal that has his nuances, hand gestures, facial expressions, and more- all of the attributes that make this figure’s performance feel uniquely Walt and not simply creating a figure to look like Walt.” – Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, Portfolio Executive Creative Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering
Quote from The Walt Disney Family Museum
“The expertise and care that Walt Disney Imagineering has devoted to this project is nothing short of remarkable. Diane Disney Miller was driven to create The Walt Disney Family Museum to not only honor her father, but to also expose the public to the extraordinary—and real—man behind the globally impactful brand. We are endlessly grateful to The Walt Disney Company for their exceptional and considerate efforts to make Walt an integral part of the park experience. I think that Walt would be thrilled with the blend of cutting-edge technology and artistry. And I think that he would be touched by the tribute.” – Kirsten Komoroske, Executive Director, The Walt Disney Family Museum
